Baby Audio Smooth Operator

Full Description

Not your average EQ

What on the surface may appear to be another EQ plugin similar to those that you may already have at your disposal, Baby Audio Smooth Operator delivers an entirely new and unique experience of EQ'ing. The principle that Smooth Operator works on is spectral processing, translating a sound into an FFT for all-at-once, real-time analysing and processing of your signal. Blurring the lines between frequency-domain and time-domain analysis, Smooth Operator is the best of both worlds. Where you can of course use Smooth Operator for visualisation of frequency control, you can drag the parameter nodes to the extreme and it turns into a compressor instead of simply making a more aggressive filter. This is what makes the Smooth Operator out from the crowd, letting you manipulate your signal in new and exciting ways and constantly reacting to the input signal.

Reduce harshness and bring out the clarity

The art of mixing music is about understanding what tools are the best fit for the job as you may struggle against poorly recorded instruments or bad equipment, microphones or rooms that result in a less than ideal sound. The job of a mixing engineer is to ensure that the inadequacies of this don't result in a boomy, muddy, fizzy or harsh sound that's unpleasant to the listener. Enter Smooth Operator to save the day, by dynamically reducing the peaks across a targetted frequency range to reduce unwanted harshness and resonances for a smooth and balanced tone.

With four bands, two that are fixed and anchored to either end of the spectrum, you have the ability to shape your tone across the full frequency spectrum, taking care of any low resonances that cause unwanted hum or boxiness as well as the upper-midrange and treble region that can create unpleasant overtones or harmonic resonances that can be heard as a 'whistle'.

Using the intelligent analysis that reacts in real-time to your input signal, Smooth Operator can help you to create more balanced and smooth mixes to bring out the clarity of your tracks without suffering from dull and lifeless tones. Perfectly suited to individual instruments, groups and entire mixes, Smooth Operator could unlock the door to professional and polished mixes that you've been missing in your productions.

Cut away guitar amp 'boxiness' while retaining the fundamental low-end and punch and keep the fundamental of your bass drum intact while removing the distracting overtones and harmonics that muddy the impact of the fundamental note. There's no limitation to what you can achieve with Smooth Operator, from tone-shaping, de-essing or adding an exciting compression to your tracks, Smooth Operator can do it all.

Reviews

"Terrifically addictive and creative" - Creative Digital Media

"You could almost mix an entire track using Smooth Operator" - Sound on Sound magazine

"Excels at tidying up. 9/10" - MusicTech

"It lives up to its name" - Recording Magazine

Features

• Non-destructive enhancement across a wide range of mix elements
• Mix between time and frequency-based analysis means the peaks get reduced without sounding compressed
• Two algorithm modes: High-Res and Classic
• Intelligent algorithm that analyses your audio in real-time and automatically adjusts to tackle harsh resonances
• Smooth harsh frequency resonances and bring out the clarity in your instruments or groups
• Activating High-Res mode eliminates 'spectral harmonics'
• Intuitive and engaging interface
• Adjustable Q-level for each of the four bands to shape your tonal response
• Using the Focus dial, you can control how surgical Smooth Operator is where at 100 percent, each frequency is processed independently and lower values gives you a more broad response
• Handy SOLO button lets you audition specific frequency ranges independently to pin-point the exact regions to effect
• Fully resiable plugin window
• Three colour modes to suit your aesthetic
• Duck a specific frequency range against another track in your mix with the Side Chain mode

Specifications

• Operating system:
  • Mac: Mac OS 10.11 and up (including Native Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3 Compatibility)
  • Windows: Windows 10 and up
• Plugin formats: VST, VST3, AU, AAX.
• Product code: 1246-1682